Review of A Separation (2011) by Sukhjeet S — 07 Feb 2013

The most powerful movie I have seen in years, it's tells a universal story that could happen in India, though it emerges out of Iran. It's fast, edgy and leaves you wanting more - which is unbelievable for a domestic tale of a few days in the life of very ordinary people.

The title is not very apt - the story does start and end with the spectre of divorce facing the family in question, but there are so many more questions, emotions and situations that it portrays.

The wife wants a divorce, because the husband does not wish to leave his ailing father behind in search of a better life abroad. The turn of events in their lives after she leaves makes for the rest of the story. The utter helplessness of the protagonist, and the strength and fortitude with which he tackles the situation made me want to reach out and help.

It would have been easy to show up many of the characters as villains, but not one person seemed to be in the wrong. This is probably the best part of the script.

The one thought that kept striking me was about the eleven year daughter. Is she shown as being too precocious? Haven't seen too many eleven years-old capable to such deep thought. But she, too, evokes respect and sympathy by the way she deals with the difficult times.

My first Iranian film, and I strongly recommend it to all my friends.